The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team’s ongoing probing into the defrauding of Standard Bank of more than R26 million has yielded the arrest of a tenth suspect, Xolani Skhumbuzo Nkosingiphile Shange (30) from Durban.
He briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 22 March, facing a charge of fraud.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the Durban Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team had nabbed Shange on 20 March. The court granted him R8 000 bail.
“His case was postponed to 12 April for transfer to Free State High Court,” said Singo.
Singo said investigations revealed that Shange had allegedly colluded with nine other suspects to swindle the money from three clients’ accounts after fraudulently accessing the accounts.
Singo said they had found that two former employees of the bank, Kelebogile Tlhatlosi (27) and Gotshawanetse Mmoniemang Adora (37), allegedly accessed accounts of the clients to siphon the money.
“Several transfers were made from the three victims’ accounts without their knowledge. As a result, Standard Bank was prejudiced and suffered a total loss of more than R26 million,” he said.
The crime reportedly took place in November and December 2021.
The other suspects are: Gerald Hleza (32), Boleba Lesale (35), Thoriso Mosikili (35), Brian Odora (36), Ellen Muhlalo (46), Michael Sayers (53) and Ashley Michael Youngman (35).
They were arrested in December 2021, October 2022, and February 2023.
They are currently out on bail ranging between R500 and R10 000.
Singo said the ten suspects’ trial was expected to take place in the Free State High Court from 8 to 27 May.
The Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation unit, together with the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), have secured preservation orders against Mosikili, Tlhatlosi and Brian Odora.
These pertain to more than R7,7 million and a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Sport 4Matic.
The NPA has since confirmed that Youngman is facing charges of theft, money laundering, the possession of illicit proceeds, and failure to declare certain transactions to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).
